Greg Combet (Charlton, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change) Share this | Hansard source

Not too threatening. The important thing here is that this country needs to take action on both fronts: on establishing the renewable energy target legislation and on reducing our greenhouse gas emissions through the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. We need consistency in national public policy making on these important issues. It is not enough to be in this place and to support, or not to oppose, the renewable energy target legislation. But, on the other side of the equation—we can all feel good about solar energy and geothermal and wind and wave power, and support the renewable energy target—the real test is the establishment of the carbon price in this economy.

It is the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme that is going to make the contribution to shift investment away from higher-polluting industries into lower pollution forms of energy generation. The renewable energy target on its own will not achieve the billions of dollars of investment that this country needs in renewable energy sources or reduced greenhouse gas emissions. We need both institutional changes in our economy to secure this important change in the battle against climate change. We need a consistent approach in policymaking, and we need consistency from the opposition side of politics on this issue. It is critical not just to support the renewable energy legislation but also to support the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme legislation.

There has been too much walking on both sides of the street in national politics from the coalition on a number of key issues. There is an interesting interview in relation to this approach of having it a bit both ways from the doors of Parliament House this morning. The member for Cowan was interviewed at the doors this morning in relation to the stimulus package, and the interview is symptomatic of the approach we see from the coalition in dealing with key policy issues. They come in here, vote against the stimulus package, go out there and say it is good. The member for Cowan was asked the following by a journalist at the doors: ‘But do you believe stimulus has helped Australia out of recession?’ The member for Cowan responded, ‘Well, with that, there has been a lot of money’—

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